Sounding Urban Nature

We studied the interplay between urban nature soundscapes, biodiversity and student mental wellbeing to guide area development strategies at Amsterdam Science Park (ASP) for the benefit of all life on campus. The study uses Remote Sensing techniques and AI to classify bird sounds, and presents a systemic overview of key factors that affect wellbeing on the campus environment – from bird diversity and landscape greenness to subjective acoustic experiences. Drawing on scientific insights and community feedback, our work not only highlights the vital role of a healthy soundscape in reducing stress but also provides actionable recommendations for ecological interventions and engaging public spaces. The project was exhibited at the "Met andere ogen" landscape festival and featured in the Urban Ecology Field Atlas. 

Challenge

Research increasingly shows the potential of biodiversity restoration to improve mental wellbeing by reducing stress levels (e.g., Hartig & Kahn, 2016; Houlden et al., 2018; Kondo et al., 2020). Apart from the visual dimension of nature and its related benefits, the acoustic dimension, such as birdsong, has also been shown to have a positive effect on mental wellbeing. This dimension, however, is often overlooked by policymakers (Buxton et al., 2021; Smalley et al., 2022; van den Berg & de Haas, S., 2022). 

Also at Amsterdam Science Park, nature sound has received little attention from policymakers and area developers. Moreover, area development at Amsterdam Science Park leads to a decline in biodiversity. To inform and inspire policy makers to develop a more ecologically resilient campus, we studied the (sound) environment at Amsterdam Science Park and potential synergies between biodiversity and mental wellbeing.  

Approach

We combined field research, acoustic monitoring, and community engagement to address these challenges. First, we mapped bird diversity and landscape greenness across the campus using innovative acoustic monitoring tools and AI classification methods. Next, we conducted soundwalks and listening experiments to assess how students perceive different sound environments. Finally, we translated our findings into practical interventions – a landscape artwork offering a biodiverse sound oasis at Science Park, and organizing birdhouse workshops – to help shift perceptions and improve the campus soundscape in a way that benefits both biodiversity and mental wellbeing. 

Outcomes


The project culminated in a comprehensive report and public interventions that outline the correlation between natural soundscapes and improved student wellbeing. It includes the following key outcomes: 

  • We found that greener areas of ASP house more birds in terms of species richness and the abundance of birdsong.  

  • Moreover, we found that students feel calmer and somewhat happier when listening to nature sounds compared to urban sounds at ASP, both outdoors and when exclusively listening to the audio in a darkened room.  

  • Therefore we conclude that greening ASP in regions where the bird diversity is currently low is an effective way to improve the acoustic environment of ASP and thereby contribute to improved student wellbeing.  

  • Based on our findings, we created a landscape artwork for the "Met andere ogen" landscape festival, in an area of ASP where the environment formerly lacked appropriate bird habitat. In this field, students are invited to enter a ‘biodiverse oasis’ and listen to their environment through leaning chairs and prompted signs.  

These outcomes not only provide a roadmap for immediate improvements at Amsterdam Science Park but also set the stage for long-term urban design strategies that integrate ecological soundscapes to enhance both environmental quality and mental health. 

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